Lagos Assembly approves dismissal of LASTMA officer over extortion

Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday approved dismissal of an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Onipede Olusegun, from service over alleged extortion.

This followed the adoption of recommendation of the House committee which investigated the matter.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onipede had submitted a petition to the house entitled: “Dismissal from Civil Service” seeking reversal of his sack by LASTMA.

Onipede said in the petition that he was on a patrol around Ojota axis when he observed that vehicles were parked indiscriminately at the Bus Stop resulting in gridlock.

The dismissed officer said that he instructed driver of the vehicle in front to move to ease the traffic but refused.

In the petition, Onipede said that he took photograph of the vehicle with his phone after which the bus conductor held his hand and pleaded for deletion of the pictures.

“In the process of holding my hand while pleading, a passerby took the photograph and shared same on the social media which LASTMA authority came across and accused me of extortion from a bus conductor.

“All attempts to explain what transpired between me and the bus conductor to LASTMA authority was rebuffed,’’ he said in the petition challenging his sack.

Presenting the report on the floor, Mr Dayo Famakinwa, Chairman, House Committee on Establishment, Training, Pension and Public Service, said that relevant stakeholders were invited while investigating the matter.

Famakinwa said that the committee concluded its investigation and adopted the position of the Civil Service Commission to the effect that Onipede should be dismissed from the service.

Contributing, the House Deputy Chief Whip, , Mr Omotayo Oduntan said that motorists dreaded LASTMA officers so much in the state.
Oduntan (APC-Alimosho II) said, “The fear of LASTMA is the beginning of traffic wisdom in Lagos State.

“Now there are many bad ones among them who have become allies with the commercial bus drivers thereby extorting money from them.

“I can recall one LASTMA officer tried to extort money from a danfo driver, but pleaded for forgiveness after I accosted him.

“I think it is nemesis that caught up with the man in question.

“It will serve as a deterrent to other LASTMA officials who indulge in such disgusting behaviour,” he said.

In another development, the House has announced the online streaming of its plenary and other activities live.
Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, informed members of the development, and that they should as well inform members of the public about it.